JOSEVAZQUEZ, DEPARTMENT EDITOR AV & Software Reviews L; PALEONTOLOGY shows the earliest stages of Geof Rickards. Produced by ETI P-4 bipedalism known to science. Information Systems Ltd., PO Box Coincidence in Paradise. 1999. Bipedalism is what they say 3373 Wokingham, Berkshire VHS. Distributed by First allowed humans to become RG41 1XN UK. For further infor- >-4 Run/Icarus Films. 32 Court Street, humans. It was by using this mode mation visit www.etiis.org.uk. 21st Fl. Brooklyn,NY 11201. (718) of transportation that hominids ?52.95 includes air shipping. 488-8900. For pricing and order- were able to adapt to their environ- ing information,visit www.frif.com. ments and survive the challenges System Requirements: RunningTime: 88 minutes. that existed at the time. Windows 95, 98, 2000 or XP 0 How did we get here in the While the pace of the film Mac OS 7.6 or higher, OS X Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/68/4/253/53614/4451977.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 first place? This is the underlying moves about as fast as evolution (Classic) 0 question throughout Coincid- itself, it does consider several ence in Paradise. This film pro- points that are essential in under- 16 free application RAM vides an in-depth survey of the standing the descent of man. In Display resolution: at least 800 x z history of mankind, tracing our these times of debate over evolu- 600 pixels origins from chimpanzees to mod- tion versus intelligent design, This CD-ROM, another part in u ern day humans. It uses inter- Coincidence Paradise pro- of the Beating the Biology Book vides almost irrefutable P4 views with such renowned pale- evidence series, attempts to bring to Darwin ontologists as Dr. Meave Leakey supporting and his theo- advanced secondary school and In and Dr. Tim White to provide sub- ries. fact, the film quotes undergraduate students "the fun- Darwin several stantial evidence as to how times to empha- damental knowledge necessary to humans arose from a common size points that the scientists are understand the structure of DNA making. ape ancestor. They say that pale- One of them, Dr. and genes, and the synthesis and ontologists are the keepers of time Christophe Boesch, says that fate of proteins." The program there was 0 and that they are the ones who really no beginning to does so quite effectivelyby includ- mankind will collect the evidence to show and that we are prod- ing numerous details and anima- 04 that evolution has taken place. ucts of our history. This suggests tions. that the Much of the film is spent modification of ape-like creatures into DNA and Proteins includes sec- showing the plains of Africa,where humans happened U) for tions on: human life was thought to have a reason. begun. Dr. Leakeytakes the viewer Coincidence in Paradise is * Importance of DNA and on a fossil hunt, looking for some chock-full of scientific information proteins kind of connection between apes that would be suitable for upper * The structure of DNA, and and man. Back in the laboratory, level high school and college stu- DNA replication Dr. White discusses a new species dents in an evolution or paleon- * DNA and chromosomes of hominid, which predates "Lucy," tology course. The narration of called Ramidus.This new species the film is in Germanwith English * DNA and genes subtitles, although all but one of * Transcriptionand transla- the interviews are in English. tion Jost VAZQUEZteaches science in the GeneralStudies Program at New York Jeffrey D. Sack * From polypeptide to pro- University.He has been teachingfor BiologyTeacher tein about 20 years and has taughtevery ValleyRegional High School * Protein sorting and trans- level from elementary to graduate Deep River,CT 06412 port school. His particular interestsare [email protected] genetics/cellbiology and parasitology. * Regulation of gene action Jose is also a memberof the Test and protein synthesis. Development Committee for the Each section includes excel- National Assessmentof Educational lent animations as well as "extra" Progress(The Nation'sReport Card). MOLECULAR animations for advanced-levelstu- His address is: General Studies GENETICS dents. Program-NYU,726 BroadwayAve., New York, NY 10003; e-mail: DNA and Proteins. 2003. CD- I was very impressed by the [email protected]. ROM.Developed by Oof Oud and breadth and depth of the

CLASSROOMTECHNOLOGY REVIEWS 253 program. For instance, DNA and BIOLOGY OF tion goes into much detail regarding replicationincludes 10 steps given somatic, germ line, autopolyploidy, with explanations along with an MUTATIONS aneuploidy, and translocations and animation of telomeres and the inversions types of mutations. Several Mutations.2003. CD-ROM.Developed function of telomerase. In examples are and the by Oof Oud and Geof Rickards. given, illustra- Transcriptionand translation each tions certainly the Producedby ETIInformation Systems convey main point step is thoroughly explained, illus- of each sub-section. On Ltd., PO Box 3373 Wokingham, the "extra" trated,and analyzed. For advanced section for advanced BerkshireRG41 1XN UK. For further students, there students there is a section titled are wonderful examples straw- information visit www.etiis.org.uk. using Buildribosome, that displays the for- berries and ?52.95 includesair shipping. boysenberries to illustrate mation of ribosomal subunits and autopolyploidy and allopolyploidy, transportacross nuclear pores, lead- System Requirements: respectively. One flaw of this section ing to its assembly.An effectivesec- is the illustration of translocations tion not found in similar teaching Windows95, 98, 2000 or XP and inversions, but not of deletions materialsis Proteinsorting and trans- MacOS 7.6 or higher,OS X (Classic) and duplications. It is not clear to me port, that illustrates the modifica- why the authors chose to illustrate 16 freeapplication RAM tions necessary to convert a one type of mutations over the other. polypeptide into a functional pro- Displayresolution: at least 800 x 600 Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/68/4/253/53614/4451977.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 pixels The section on Mutations and tein, including an excellent anima- Cancer does a great job correlating tion of kinesis to display motor pro- The significanceof mutationsis various mutations with running off teins. Finally, Regulationof protein largelyunderestimated in manybiolo- different trafficlights. There is a focus synthesis does a magnificent job gy textbooksand teachingtools. Both on breast cancer and chronic myeloid explaining and illustratingthe con- the short-termand long-termimplica- leukemia. This is a fascinating aspect cept of genes being "turnedon/off' tions of mutations are interestingly since those two have received signifi- along temporalregulation of genes. exploredin this program.It includes cant coverage in the recent literature. The tutorial also includes a sectionson: Finally, Mutations and Evolutionputs Diagnostic Test for basic level and * Significanceof mutations everything about mutations into a extra level. Explanationsare provid- * Genemutations broader perspective by explaining ed upon answeringquestions incor- why mutations could be considered * Chromosomemutations rectly. My only criticism about the both "good news" and "badnews." To software is that it omits intron * Originof mutations sum up the authors use two conclud- removalaltogether when discussing * Ratesand repairof mutations ing statements, that I'd like to share post-transcriptional modifications * Consequencesof mutations with the readers: of the mRNA.Other than that, this * Mutationsand cancer * Mutation, meiosis, sex is an excellent tool to enhance diffi- * Mutationsand evolution. - genetic variation cult concepts essential to the under- standing of life science. This program is committed to * Change in genetic variation illustratingthe ubiquitousnature of - evolution Jose Vazquez mutations,and theirrelevance to can- The students can answer a series GeneralStudies Program cer, evolution,and overall diversity. of challenging exercises, followed by New YorkUniversity The most detailed section is excellent explanations when New York,NY 10003 Consequencesof mutations. This sec- answered incorrectly. Overall, Mutations is a superior program which should not be missed by teach- ers of advanced high school biology or introductory undergraduate life science. It covers much needed ground to convey students most of ThanK you *- the aspects surrounding one of the most fascinating topics in modern NABT thanks AIBS and BSCS for sponsoring the biology. The affordable price should NABT Evolution Education Award. The association also be another reason to make it part of the classroom technology available to thanks Bio-Rad Laboratories for its sponsorship our students. of the Biotechnology Teaching Award. Your support of the Jose Vazquez NABTAwards Program and Life Science Education is GeneralStudies Program New YorkeUniversity appreciated. New York,NY 10003

254 THEAMERICAN BIOLOGY TEACHER, VOLUME 68, NO.4, APRIL2006